Nov 14, 20 this is a superb recording of brittens three quartets made at the wigmore hall a year ago, writes andrew clements. At the time, he and peter pears were staying as guests of the english piano duo ethel bartlett and rae robertson at escondido near san diego, california 152 it was the last important work of his american period 32 britten remarked that three months to write it was short. Britten donated his commission fee to support famine relief in india. The quartet was commissioned by a wealthy musical patron named mary behrend to commemorate the 250 th anniversary of the death of the english composer henry purcell. In the concert hall, their rather balletic style of performance can in my experience be alienating, but in these britten recordings you can appreciate their high level of technical accomplishment without the risk of visual distraction. The britten quartet make an extraordinarily full sound so much so that one forgets at times that they are just a. In praise of string quartets lost cost press, 1998.
Britten, maggini string quartet string quartet 1 d maj. Allegro maestoso lento ed espressivo allegro giocoso. Although britten wrote at least six string quartets during his teens, some under the private tutelage of frank bridge, his first substantial work for quartet to receive a public performance was a set of three divertimenti extracted from a larger suite with the working title go play, boy, play a quotation from shakespeares the winters tale, which he had begun in 1933. Benjamin brittens third string quartet written in autumn 1975, is among the very last works he completed. Complete set of parts for brittens string quartet no 2 op 36. In 1945 britten had toured germany as piano accompanist to yehudi menuhin, who had agreed to perform for the survivors of the concentration camps, including the infamous. Britten wrote three numbered string quartets and a few other short suites for the quartet ensemble. It brought him national and international attention, being performed on the bbc in 1933 and at the annual international society of contemporary music festival in 1934, an extraordinary occurrence for the work of a composer who was still, at time of composition, a.
The occasion which led tchaikovsky to compose string quartet no. Thalia music camp at pilgrim firs summer 1975, by brothers of john betty hu family ages 6th to 11th grade. The belcea quartet have become prominent players on the chambermusic scene. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments. Britten, benjamin simple symphony op 4 set of parts for two. In this town, situated about 300 kilometres northeast of moscow, shostakovich resided in the house of rest and creativity.
Three divertimenti for string quartet benjamin britten. A listeners guide to the string quartet repertoire. The first performance was by the zorian quartet in the wigmore hall, london on 21 november 1945, in a concert to mark the exact 250th anniversary of the death of english. The list below includes all pages in the category quartets. The first performance was by the zorian quartet in the wigmore hall, london on 21 november 1945, in a concert to mark the exact 250th anniversary of the death of english composer henry purcell 165995. However, it is in the public domain in canada where imslp is hosted and other countries where the term is lifeplus50 years such as china, japan, korea and many. Sort this list by work type, instrumentation, composer, and more. It was composed in snape, suffolk and london, and completed on 14 october. The quartet was commissioned by arts patron elizabeth sprague coolidge, while britten was living in america. Tchaikovsky recognized that such a concert would bring him to the attention of the general musical. Join a community of music enthusiasts with a passion for music education. Britten, benjamin simple symphony op 4 set of parts for two violins, viola and cello oxford university press publication.
Complete set of parts for britten s string quartet no 2 op 36. Nov 05, 2017 phantasy quartet for oboe and string trio, op. Cello, oboe, viola, violin, string quartet sheet music book by benjamin britten 191976. A listeners guide to the string quartet repertory the following pages were included as an appendix to my book the four and the one. An interesting coincidence is that his birthday fell on the feast of st.
String quartets 1, 2, 3 two distinguished quartets go headtohead in works that are among the composers most traditional in tone and. This is one of the essential genres forms ensembles of chamber music and arguably a critical core of classical music. In his phantasy for string quintet and in simple symphony, composed for either string orchestra or quartet, britten retreated somewhat from the terse language of the quartettino, and after simple symphony, he only returned to the quartet medium in order to compose the three numbered quartets, in 1941, 1945 and 1975. If you have any questions about this products warranty or to make a return, please contact our customer service department at 800. This is a superb recording of brittens three quartets made at the wigmore hall a year ago, writes andrew clements. Britten, maggini string quartet string quartet 1 d. Britten composed this phantasy quartet for the great british oboist leon goossens. String quartet no 2 in c major, op 36 britten from.
About this item the quartet was commissioned by a wealthy musical patron named mary behrend to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of the english composer henry purcell. String quartets 1, 2, 3 two distinguished quartets go headtohead in works that are among. In the concert hall, their rather balletic style of performance can in my experience be alienating, but in these britten recordings you can appreciate their high level of technical accomplishment without the risk of. Simple symphony for string orchestra or string quartet chester music.
Includes one part each for violin 1, violin 2, viola, and cello. Recorded on circa 1970 sony tc95 mono cassete recorder. See also for 4 players, duets, trios, quintets, sextets, septets, octets, nonets, dixtuors. Britten, by summarizing some highlights of his life. This quartet was dedicated to its cellist sergei petrovich shirinsky 1903 1974 whom shostakovich had known since 1926 2. The maggini on naxos provides a safe option, regardless of its budget price, and the fine sorrel quartet on chandos adds value by including two of brittens juvenile quartets. Benjamin britten phantasy quartet with score youtube. This is one of the essential genres forms ensembles of chamber music and. Decades had passed since his first two quartets, written in the early 1940s, just before the opera peter grimes catapulted him to international fame. Top a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z chart. In a century dominated by the string quartets of bartok and shostakovich, brittens number 2 is a isolated masterpiece of a genius.
The guide offers one listeners catalogue of the best string quartets, from haydn through the 1990s. Benjamin britten was born in the town of lowestoft, in suffolk, england on november 22, 19. Time and again, he used the high, clear sound of the oboe to. Britten, benjamin simple symphony op 4 set of parts for. Benjamin britten string quartet no 3 university of sussex. String quartet in d by benjamin britten string quartet study score item. This includes individual works for four players designated by their composers as a quartet or quatuor in a title or subtitle.
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